The Summary Settlement of 1856 was based on which one of the following

The Summary Settlement of 1856 was based on which one of the following assumptions?

The Talukdars were the rightful owners of the land.
The Talukdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in the land.
The Talukdars could evict the peasants from the lands.
The Talukdars would take a portion of the revenue which flowed to the State.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2019
The correct answer is B) The Talukdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in the land.
When the British annexed Awadh in 1856, they implemented a Summary Settlement with the aim of settling land revenue directly with the village proprietors, bypassing the Talukdars (large landholders). This policy was based on the assumption that the Talukdars were recent creations, often tax collectors or adventurers who had usurped their position and did not have historical rights or ‘permanent stakes’ in the land, unlike the village communities.
Before annexation, Talukdars controlled about 67% of the total number of villages in Awadh. The Summary Settlement drastically reduced their power and deprived many of them of their landholding rights, reducing their control to about 38% of villages. This policy severely alienated the Talukdars, who then joined the Revolt of 1857 against the British in large numbers, often bringing their peasant followers with them. After the Revolt, the British changed their policy towards the Talukdars, recognizing their importance in maintaining stability and granting them more rights.
Exit mobile version